Download Building a Climate Resilient Victoria

BUILDING A
CLIMATE RESILIENT
VICTORIA
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTATION PLAN
PROGRESS REPORT
1
PAGE
Introduction
Minister's Foreword
01
Strategic Priority 1 /
Managing risks to public assets and services
managed by the Victorian Government
The Victorian Government released the Victorian
Climate Change Adaptation Plan in March 2013, setting
out a framework for managing climate risks to critical
Victorian Government assets and services.
02
Strategic Priority 2 /
Managing risks to natural assets
and natural resource-based industries
04
Strategic Priority 3 /
Building disaster resilience and
integrated emergency management
The plan establishes key whole of Victorian Government
strategies and strategic priorities to manage the major
short and long term climate risks and build community
preparedness. The plan addresses six key areas: existing
adaptation responses, roles and responsibilities, key
strategies and priorities, integrating climate risk management,
partnerships and regional focus.
06
Strategic Priority 4 /
Improving access to research and
information for decision making
10
Strategic Priority 5 /
Supporting private sector adaptation
12
Strategic Priority 6 /
Strengthening partnerships with
local government and communities
16
Regional Snapshots
18
This progress report has been prepared to highlight key
achievements and projects that are being delivered as part
of the implementation of the plan. The report showcases
a number of examples under each of six strategic priorities,
followed by a regional snapshot overview of activities
across Victoria.
What is climate change adaptation
Adaptation is about increasing public and private resilience
to climate risks through better decisions about managing
our built and natural environment and taking advantage
of opportunities.
Find Out More
If you would like to find out more about Climate Change
Adaptation please visit our website, email us or call the
DEPI Customer Service Centre.
Website:www.climatechange.vic.gov.au
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 136 186
See also:www.depi.vic.gov.au
www.emv.vic.gov.au
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT / PAGE 1
MINISTER'S
FOREWORD
Victoria – A State Evolving
This year Melbourne earned the envious title of being
the most liveable city in the world for the fourth
consecutive year. This honour is testament to our high
standard of living, of which our economic strength and
health of our environment play a significant part.
We intend to maintain our strong reputation. We are taking
decisive action to address the challenges associated with
the possibility of reduced rainfall, less snowfall, possible sea
level rise and higher frequency of heatwaves and drought.
A changing climate has the potential to put our public
assets and services under pressure if we are not prepared.
In 2013, the Victorian Government released Australia's
most comprehensive adaptation plan. The plan outlines a
pathway and broad suite of adaptation actions to create
the right conditions for local government, businesses and
the community to lead in their own adaptation efforts and
planning for climate risks. By working in partnership across
all levels of government and with stakeholders, the plan
strikes a sound balance between priorities so we are in the
best position to respond to possible future changes without
compromising our economic strength or constraining our
communities and businesses with excessive restrictions.
Since its release all levels of government and business,
communities and individuals are working towards better
managing the risks of a changing climate. By investing in
innovative strategies that are promoting healthy adaptive
responses, protecting communities and stimulating new
economic opportunities the Victorian Government is
adapting to the short, medium and long term impacts of
climate change. State and local governments are beginning
to integrate climate risk planning into policy settings and
existing risk management strategies. Businesses are learning
about their responsibilities and growing their understanding
of managing risks. Communities are becoming more resilient
through on ground action. This all helps Victoria’s progress
in adapting to change.
I encourage you to take the time to read about the good
work being carried out by Victorians in the public and private
sectors to ensure Victoria is prepared for the impacts of
climate change. The cumulative benefits of each and
every action is making a real difference.
The Hon Ryan Smith MP
Minister for Environment and Climate Change
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1 /
MANAGING RISKS TO PUBLIC ASSETS AND SERVICES
MANAGED BY THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT
The Victorian Government manages a large portfolio of public assets and
services. Extreme events can cause disruption to services and damage to
assets. The government is implementing risk management strategies for
any potential risks associated with climate change.
2
CASE STUDY /
Alpine & North East Strategic
Bushfire Risk Landscape Project
Recent bushfire disasters in Victoria have highlighted
the need for a more strategic approach to bushfire
management. A new computer model called Phoenix
RapidFire has been collaboratively developed by the
University of Melbourne, Bushfire Cooperative Research
Centre and DEPI. The model can simulate the growth
and spread of a fire across the landscape, allowing
planning to be based on how fires are likely to behave
in a given landscape.
Strategic Bushfire Management Plans are being
developed in seven bushfire risk landscape areas to
reduce the impact of major fires on communities
and protect people, water, power supplies and the
environment. In the Alpine & North East this includes
townships, the Alpine Valleys wine region, Alpine Resorts
(including Mount Hotham, Falls Creek and Mount Buller),
as well as timber resources, agricultural areas and the
Alpine National Park.
The Alpine & North East Risk Landscape project area
covers approximately 15% of Victoria across roughly
26,000 square km. The area stretches from the alpine
areas and the Goulburn Valley across to the Murray
River and incorporates eight local government areas
and three Alpine Resort Board areas.
The Strategic Bushfire Management Plan for the Alpine
& North East will identify and prioritise areas at risk of
fire and assist development of fuel treatment plans to
reduce these risks. The plan will be subject to ongoing
implementation and evaluation, using the ISO 31000
model of risk management. This includes assessing
the risk of fire to communities throughout the area and
preparing products and tools to help inform the Fire
Operations Plan.
This $550,000 project will ensure that fuel treatments
in the Hume region are applied where they will be most
effective. It will also help other agencies such as the CFA
and local government, as well the local community to
understand and play their part in reducing these risks.
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT / PAGE 3
Key Achievements /
3
Managing risks for critical
infrastructure and essential
services:
Public Health and Wellbeing
Plans and Climate Change:
The Critical Infrastructure
Resilience Interim Strategy outlines
new management arrangements for
an all hazards approach in Victoria and
was released in December 2013.
All Victorian councils have completed
Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing
Plans (MPHWP) for 2013-2017. Under
the Climate Change Act 2010 MPHWP
must have regard to the potential
impacts of climate change.
Benefit to Victorians
Benefit to Victorians
Vital service delivery of power, water,
transport and telecommunications is
not interrupted.
This will help local governments to
better plan for and improve their
communities' resilience to the longterm health impacts of climate change.
5
Community fire refuges
at public schools:
Through the Community Fire Refuge
pilot program, community fire refuges
at Millwarra Primary School and Ferny
Creek Primary School were opened to
use as a last resort survival option in
the event of a significant bushfire.
Benefit to Victorians
Provide a place to go for those at
risk during a bushfire.
4
Protecting beaches:
The Coastal Environments Program
provides funding of $2.3 million per
annum for four years, totalling $9.2
million, including funding in 2014-15.
This program focuses on reducing
damage to critical state infrastructure
and Crown land from erosion, sea
level rise and storm surges.
Benefit to Victorians
Beaches remain safe and accessible
for Victorians to enjoy.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2 /
MANAGING RISKS TO NATURAL ASSETS AND
NATURAL RESOURCE-BASED INDUSTRIES
Victoria’s natural environment faces challenges from a changing climate.
Managing the risks to our coasts, forests and parks and waterways will allow
Victoria to continue to enjoy the benefits of a healthy environment now and
in the future. The Victorian Government is addressing these risks with
practical action, effective regulation and better services.
6
CASE STUDY /
Strategies and policies to protect Victoria’s coasts
The Victorian Coastal Strategy 2014 (VCS 2014) was
released in September and outlines the Government's
policy commitment for coastal, estuarine and marine
environments. The VCS 2014 contains a vision for a
healthy coast, appreciated by all, now and in the future.
It also highlights five key issues including managing
population growth; adapting to a changing climate;
managing coastal land and infrastructure; valuing the
natural environment; and integrated marine planning.
In relation to adaptation and managing coastal hazards,
the VCS 2014 continues the existing sea level rise
planning benchmarks of not less than 0.8m by 2100 and
not less than 0.2m by 2040 for urban infill areas. These
benchmarks will be reviewed every five years to reflect
the latest science.
To provide coastal communities and local government
with improved information about the potential impacts
of sea level rise, the VCS 2014 builds on work completed
over the last few years like the Victorian Coastal
Inundation Dataset and the Victorian Coastal Hazard
Guide.
To assist with longer-term adaptation planning the VCS
2014 contains actions such as, sharing the learnings
from the four pilot Local Coastal Hazard Assessment
projects, being undertaken in Bellarine Peninsula-Corio
Bay, Gippsland Lakes-Ninety Mile Beach, Port Fairy and
Westernport. The outcomes of these projects will be
used to guide the application of this approach in
other locations.
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT / PAGE 5
Key Achievements /
7
Maintaining a resilient, healthy
environment for a strong
productive future:
The Victorian Government’s
Environmental Partnerships lays the
foundation for government, business,
industry, community groups and
individuals to work together on
practical and effective actions to
preserve the environment for current
and future generations. It outlines
government action across eight priority
areas that include preparing for the
potential impacts of climate change.
Environmental Partnerships – One Year
On outlines a year of achievements
towards the priorities established
by Environmental Partnerships. Key
initiatives include the 2 Million Trees
Program which is planting 1.5 million
trees across metropolitan Melbourne
and half a million trees along
waterways in regional Victoria.
Benefit to Victorians
Government, business, industry,
community groups and individuals
working together on practical and
effective actions to preserve the
environment for current and future
generations.
8
9
Building resilience of threatened
species and ecosystems:
Increasing resilience and
connectivity across the landscape:
•$15.48 million of funding was
provided to the Victorian
Environmental Partnerships Program.
This two year program addresses
critical risks to threatened species
and native vegetation in Victoria. This
investment supports regional market
-based approaches to improve
native vegetation management on
private land as well as direct local
action efforts to protect habitat and
manage threatened species habitats
and threats .
$750,000 is provided each year through
the Southern Ark project for landscapescale fox baiting to improve survival
rates of small mammals.
•The four year, $20 million
Communities for Nature Program
supports community actions on
local environmental priorities.
This program will provide up to
$5 million in 2014-15 to assist
community groups to undertake
on-ground activities, such as weed
and pest management, cleaning
up of waterways, revegetation and
fencing, resource recycling and
reuse, and biodiversity and habitat
preservation.
Benefit to Victorians
A healthier and more diverse
environment that is resilient to
climate change.
Benefit to Victorians
Increased community knowledge about
threats to wildlife and demonstrates
a partnership approach to managing
weeds and pests.
Protect and clean up the
Yarra and Port Phillip Bay:
The Victorian Government is committed
to protecting the unique natural assets
of the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay with
$7.015 million over four years to implement
A Cleaner Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay
– A Plan of Action, which outlines how
government, business and individuals can
work together to protect our waterways.
Benefit to Victorians
Continues to contribute to the ongoing
health of the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3 /
BUILDING DISASTER RESILIENCE AND
INTEGRATED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Victoria is no stranger to extreme weather events. In recent years we have
experienced events such as drought, fire and flood. These events have the potential
to cause disruption to services and business activity as well as damage to public assets
and private property. To minimise the impacts the government is focussing on risk
management and supporting the community to become more resilient.
10
CASE STUDY /
Improving community resilience to flooding
The four year FloodZoom program, a flood warning
repair and improvement program focusses on improving
warning systems, mapping and risk assessments and a
web-based intelligence platform. To date the program
has provided:
•$1.2 million on upgrading flood monitoring gauges
across Victorian catchments through the FloodZoom
program. The government has completed upgrades
to 130 flood warning gauges, with documentation
of flood warning systems underway;
•$7.6 million for the construction of levees and
other flood mitigation works;
•Catchment Management Authorities continue to
work with local government to improve flood hazard
mapping. The flood warning repair and improvement
initiative has started flood mapping studies for 26
communities with 14 completed and a further 12
to start in 2014-15.
The program aims to improve community resilience
to flooding and inundation through better coordination
and delivery of emergency preparation, planning,
information and response.
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT / PAGE 7
Key Achievements /
11
Supporting vulnerable communities
during a major emergency:
Health sector planning:
A new edition of the Emergency Relief
Handbook: a planning guide, which
was developed by the Department of
Human Services in partnership with the
Australian Red Cross was released in
November 2013.
The third edition of the State Health
Emergency Response Plan (SHERP)
was released in November 2013.
SHERP outlines the arrangements for
coordinating the health response to
emergency incidents that go beyond
day-to-day business arrangements.
Benefit to Victorians
Benefit to Victorians
Provides guidance to local councils
for the delivery of relief services to
communities affected by emergencies.
This includes personal registration,
food and water, non-food items,
emergency shelter as well as the health
and wellbeing of vulnerable people.
SHERP is used to monitor increased
demand on health services and
services to vulnerable people, as well
as the impact of power disruptions on
hospitals and aged care services.
Providing clarity on responsibilities
in responding to disaster events:
The commencement of Emergency
Management Victoria (EMV) began in
July 2014. EMV acts as the overarching
body for emergency management,
coordinating emergency management
policy, the implementation of
emergency management reform and
introduces an all hazards all agencies
approach with a focus on community,
collaboration and capability.
Benefit to Victorians
EMV maintains a focus on increasing
collaboration between business,
communities, government agencies
and not-for-profits to work together
and build a safer and more resilient
community.
12
13
14
Ongoing planning for management
of flood and storm risks:
Minimising risks to
Victorians from bushfire:
Reducing the impacts of heatwave
conditions on Victorian’s health:
• The draft Victorian Floodplain
Management Strategy was released
on 26 June, 2014 for public
comment. The strategy builds on
the Government’s response to the
Victorian floods review and the
Environment and Natural Resources
Committee Inquiry into flood
mitigation infrastructure. It aims to
provide information about flood
risk, so communities and relevant
agencies can make better informed
decisions to manage their risks.
•Identified the highest bushfire risk
areas and has undertaken planned
burning across more than 640,000
hectares of public land since 2010.
During the 2013-2014 summer, the
Chief Health Officer issued heat
health alerts for a total of 13 days when
forecast temperatures were expected
to reach or exceed heat health
temperature thresholds across
most of Victoria.
•Victoria SES has completed 74
Municipal Flood Emergency Plans
and is working to a three-year
programme for further updating.
VICSES has also completed over 50
local flood guides for communities
that have been identified as high risk.
Benefit to Victorians
Assist households and businesses to
avoid or minimise damage and the
costs associated with cleaning up from
flood events and coordinate emergency
preparation and response for floods.
Significantly improved access to local
and municipal flood threat information,
directly raising awareness, preparedness
and resilience in those areas.
•The new VicEmergency website and
Fire Ready App were launched in
December 2013.
•Seven bushfire risk landscapes have
been identified across the state, and
a Strategic Bushfire Management
Plan is being developed for each.
These plans aim to reduce the
impacts of major bushfires on
communities and to protect
people, water, power supply and
the environment across the region.
The first three strategic bushfire
management plans for the Barwon
Otway, West Central and East
Central risk landscapes are due
for release late 2014.
Benefit to Victorians
Reduces risk to human life, property
and infrastructure.
Provides easier and improved access
to information on emergencies all in
the one location. The App provides real
time warnings to community members.
Benefit to Victorians
Allows State and local governments,
hospitals and state-wide or major
metropolitan health and community
service providers to better prepare
for times of peak demand. Also
encourages Victorians to take
appropriate steps to reduce their
exposure to heatwaves.
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT / PAGE 9
15
Powerline safety:
$200 million over 10 years –
The Powerline Replacement Fund
is replacing bare-wire overhead
powerlines in high risk areas. In
addition, over 700 additional network
protection devices (automatic circuit
reclosers) have been installed.
Benefit to Victorians
Reducing the risk of fire starting
from bare-wire overhead powerlines,
creating safer communities.
Assisting Victorians to recover
from bushfire:
The Bushfire Recovery Guide to
Services: 2014 Bushfires was released
to help communities affected by
bushfire to locate relevant government
and non-government services that
may help with ongoing building
and recovery.
Benefit to Victorians
Providing guidance to help
communities rebuild and recover
from bushfire events faster.
Better information to support local
government, businesses and other
agencies to better understand
emergency risks in Victoria:
The report, Emergency Risks in Victoria,
was released in April 2014. The report
provides information about a range
of emergency related risks and a
comparison of their severity relative
to each other.
Benefit to Victorians
Assist agencies plan for emergencies at
a more detailed local level so they can
tailor actions for impacts specific to
their region.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4 /
IMPROVING ACCESS TO RESEARCH AND
INFORMATION FOR DECISION MAKING
To support effective risk management and planning for climate change the
government is investing in research to inform government planning and build
adaptive capacity in the public and private sector. This priority supports coordinated,
action-oriented research and increases the availability and accessibility of this
research to build Victoria’s climate resilience.
16
CASE STUDY /
Supporting agricultural production
to flourish in changed conditions
To manage the long term impacts to agricultural
production that are associated with a changing climate
the Victorian government is investing in research to
ensure Victoria’s agricultural industry continues to be
productive.
The Victorian Government and the Grains Research and
Development Corporation contributed $3 million each to
construct the Australian Grains Genebank at Horsham to
acquire, conserve, characterise and distribute grain crop
genetic resources for productivity outcomes and climate
change adaptation.
Scientists are exposing wheat to artificial heatwaves
in purpose-built chambers to better understand the
impact of extreme weather on wheat yield and quality.
Researchers are testing the impact of heat shock on
crops, which is short periods of more than 35 degrees
Celsius. The knowledge gained from this research will
help our agricultural sector prepare for the future.
The Growing Food and Fibre initiative is providing
$10.6 million in funding over four years for research at
Horsham and AgriBio (Bundoora) that is contributing
to the development of varieties of canola and wheat
with higher yields and productivity improvements to
manage issues such as drought, diseases and pests. Grain
varieties that grow better in tougher conditions will help
the agricultural industry adapt to predicted changes in
climate. Research has shown production levels rise when
replacing short-season canola varieties with long-season
varieties.
A team of climate and seasonal risk specialists are helping
to improve the skills of grain industry service providers
and farmers in climate adaptation and seasonal variability
management, planning and risk management. Activities
include delivering a range of seasonal risk tools to help
farmers plan, prepare and respond, including the “Break”
e-newsletter, Youtube series and regional forums.
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT / PAGE 11
Key Achievements /
17
Research and capacity building
in the agriculture industry:
•The Australian Grains Free Air CO2
Enrichment (AGFACE) project at the
Horsham Grains Centre of Excellence
has demonstrated that elevated CO2
levels increase grain yield, however
this is highly variable leading to
reduced grain quality and impacts on
bread production. Current work is
seeking solutions to these issues and
the impacts of heat stress at flowering.
•The Dairy Futures Cooperative
Research Centre (CRC) is a seven
year $120 million investment in plant
and animal genetic programs, based
at DEPI. This large-scale partnership
between dairy farmers, pasture
and cattle breeding companies,
government and researchers includes
research projects aiming to help
Victoria's farmers adapt to a changing
climate, including ways to improve the
quality of warm climate forage crops.
•The Centre for Expertise in Smoke
Taint Research is testing the Smoke
Taint Risk calculator, designed to
reduce the risk of smoke taint in
grapes and wine by predicting
seasonal timing of grapevine growth
stages and their associated risk to
smoke uptake and taint development
in wine.
Benefit to Victorians
Help farmers manage risks and identify
opportunities associated with seasonal
variances influenced by climate change.
18
Bushfire Risk Modelling:
DEPI’s risk-based approach for
quantifying bushfire risk to life and
property is based on the innovative
use of specifically designed computer
modelling software to simulate
bushfires: Phoenix RapidFire. The
software draws on years of scientific
research into bushfire behaviour,
weather systems, fuel and topography
to enable systematic and repeated
simulations and monitoring of bushfire
behaviour in the landscape. It was
developed by DEPI, the University of
Melbourne and the former Bushfire
Cooperative Research Centre.
19
Managing risks to the built
environment from sea level rise
and coastal inundation:
Four Local Coastal Hazard Assessments
are being completed at Port Fairy,
Bellarine Peninsula, Western Port and
Gippsland Lakes/90 Mile Beach, in
partnership with local councils and
catchment management authorities.
Benefit to Victorians
These assessments will provide up-todate data on storm surge and possible
sea level rise to help local and regional
decision-makers manage risks from
coastal erosion and flooding.
Benefit to Victorians
Phoenix RapidFire is an invaluable
tool for strategic bushfire management
planning. It helps land managers
and communities identify areas at
high risk from bushfires and measure
the effectiveness of potential fuel
management activities in terms of
risk reduction. This information is
used, along with input from local
communities, to better target fuel
management works, like planned
burning.
20
Research and capacity building in
whole-of-water-cycle management:
The Victorian Government is investing
in the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities to
support research and capacity building
in whole-of-water-cycle management
across government, industry and the
community to improve liveability,
resilience and environmental outcomes.
Benefit to Victorians
Support sustainable, resilient,
productive and liveable communities.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 5 /
SUPPORTING PRIVATE SECTOR ADAPTATION
Creating the right conditions for the private sector to adapt,
innovate, and manage their risks is a key priority for the
government.
21
CASE STUDY /
Securing Victoria’s water supply through
Whole of Water Cycle Management
The Victorian Government is transforming Victoria’s
urban water cycle to create an innovative and integrated
water system. Melbourne’s Water Future - released by the
Victorian Government in December 2013 - offers a new
Whole of Water Cycle Management (WWCM) approach
to managing water in the urban environment. The
strategy takes a forty year outlook to embedding whole
of water cycle planning and management and increasing
the use of alternative local water sources. Over the long
term the strategy aims to reduce urban flooding through
initiatives such as:
•mapping properties and infrastructure at risk of flash
flooding from local drainage systems and riverine
flooding as part of regional and local water cycle
planning;
•working with relevant government agencies to map
properties and infrastructure at risk of coastal and
storm surge flooding;
•reviewing flood control design responses for new
subdivisions; and
•trialling new flood prevention measures in
established suburbs.
Through the Living Victoria Fund the Victorian
Government is supporting over 40 projects which
address climate adaption in a range of ways:
•Planning projects - Integrated water resource and
land use planning to identify locally appropriate
WWCM solutions to respond to population growth,
infrastructure constraints, environmental impacts
and community aspirations;
•Demonstration projects - Highlighting the use of
novel technologies delivering WWCM outcomes.
For example, $307,000 has been provided to test
the feasibility of using stormwater to irrigate trees
in four typical residential neighbourhoods in the
Monash council area. The project will research the
development of simple, cost effective irrigation
systems to water Melbourne region’s millions of
street trees; and
•Information projects - Improving knowledge gaps
and developing new analytical techniques to assess
WWCM opportunities.
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT / PAGE 13
Key Achievements /
22
Targeted guidance for business:
Tourism Victoria has developed crisis
management tools to assist the tourism
industry at all levels to plan for, respond
to, and recover from crisis events both
man-made and natural. These include:
•the Open for Business crisis
management online resource, which
has been updated to include new
case studies of tourism businesses
impacted by recent crisis events;
•a tourism destination crisis
management guide to help tourism
destination managers to develop
a Tourism Crisis Management Plan
that is tailored to the needs of
their area or region and which is
adaptable to any crisis situation; and
•a new toolkit to help tourism
businesses prepare for bushfires,
which takes business owners
through a seven step process
to develop a plan that suits their
business. The Tourism Business
Fire Ready Kit was prepared in
partnership with the Country
Fire Authority.
Benefit to Victorians
Businesses and tourist destinations
recover faster from extreme events.
23
Improving resilience of
private buildings:
Supporting resilient
community assets:
The Victorian Government released Plan
Melbourne in May 2014, which supports
extension of the vegetation cover of
metropolitan Melbourne. Initiatives
include addressing impediments to
planting more canopy trees along
priority roads and investigating
opportunities to extend City West
Water’s ‘Greening the West’ program.
The Community Facilities Funding
Program supported 125 projects
including water efficiency works
and planting of warm weather grass
at country sports fields; as well as
measures to improve the energy
efficiency and running costs of
community facilities.
Benefit to Victorians
Making our city greener can contribute
to cooling built up areas during
heatwaves.
24
Assisting households in their
water use:
Right Water was launched by the
Victorian Government in February 2014
to encourage Victorian households to
make greater use of rain water.
Benefit to Victorians
Household water supplies are more
secure, with less pressure on urban
water supply. This reduces the
likelihood of future water restrictions.
Benefit to Victorians
Communities can continue to live and
engage in much loved recreational
activities rather than see facilities fall
into disrepair and become unusable
which is also a loss to local economies.
25
Developing integrated water
cycle management:
•
Melbourne’s Water Future outlines
a new Whole of Water Cycle
Management approach that seeks
to make improved use of alternative
local water sources, to provide a safe
and resilient water services system at
lower cost, while delivering liveability
and environmental benefits.
•The $50 million Living Victoria Fund
is currently supporting over 40
projects addressing whole of water
cycle management. $15 million was
made available for the second round
of funding, with successful projects
expected to be announced in
late 2014.
Benefit to Victorians
Supporting liveable and sustainable
communities while protecting the
environmental health of urban
waterways and bays. Secure water
supplies, protect public health and
deliver affordable essential water
services.
By reducing our reliance on water from
regional Victoria we are also decreasing
pressure on regional river systems and
water supplies.
26
27
Managing bushfire hazards:
Improving irrigation infrastructure:
Amended the Bushfire Management
Overlay and bushfire provisions to
support the resilience of communities
in urban areas and provided a $700,000
assistance fund to help landowners in
high risk areas with specialist advice
and help local councils streamline
planning permit requirements.
•In partnership with the
Commonwealth Government
the $100 million Victorian Farm
Modernisation Project was
announced for upgrading irrigation
facilities to improve water efficiency
on farms.
Benefit to Victorians
Reduce the impacts of bushfire on
human life, property and community
infrastructure.
•Victoria has secured $103 million
for the Sunraysia Modernisation
Project to bring ageing irrigation
infrastructure in line with
contemporary irrigation standards.
•Goulburn Murray Water Connections
Project: The Victorian Government,
Commonwealth Government,
Melbourne Water and local irrigators
are investing more than $2 billion to
upgrade the water delivery network
in Northern Victoria. The Project is
scheduled for completion in 2018.
Benefit to Victorians
Improvements will save water for
farmers and the environment in the
Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District and
is expected to deliver 53 gigalitres of
water savings, with 30 gigalitres going
to the environment, helping to build
more resilience to the challenge of
drought.
The modernisation will improve water
delivery management and irrigation
services. Improvements will assist
irrigation communities to remain viable
and productive despite the challenges
of drought and a changing climate.
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT / PAGE 15
28
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 6 /
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITIES
Partnerships between the Victorian Government and the local government sector
are a critically important mechanism for adaptation planning across Victoria.
29
CASE STUDY /
Climate resilient communities
of the Barwon South West
With support from the Victorian Government, ten
councils in Victoria’s South West are working with local
partners to make their operations more resilient to the
effects of climate change. These partners include Barwon
Water, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority,
G21 Geelong Regional Alliance, Glenelg Hopkins
Catchment Management Authority, Great South Coast
Group, Wannon Water, Western Coastal Board, VicRoads
and Powercor.
In Barwon South West Region, fire, flood and drought
have all had significant impacts on local communities,
industries and economies in the past and these types
of events are expected to become more frequent and
more severe under future climatic changes. The Climate
Resilient Communities project gives the region the
information needed to understand the risks and be better
equipped to prepare for or respond to these events
into the future.
Climate Resilient Communities of the Barwon South
West has produced region-specific data to equip project
partners with an accurate understanding of climate risks
to the region and aid in identification of priority actions
to address these risks. The project will help communities
throughout the region understand what the risks or
opportunities are from future extreme weather events
and help council prepare for these events. The project
has engaged more than 120 staff from across the ten
councils and range of partner agencies to explore the
impacts of extreme climate events in their area and
identify key risks to their business operations.
The second phase of the project will deliver regional
priority projects to manage the risks identified. All ten
councils received further state government funding
to work together to implement these projects.
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT / PAGE 17
Key Achievements /
30
31
Supporting local government build
the resilience of their communities
through planning and action:
Boosting the level of expertise
within local government to plan
for climate change:
$4.79 million – the Victorian Adaptation
and Sustainability (VAS) Partnership
is delivering funding for 39 local
government projects that enhance
local climate resilience. Seventy
Victorian councils are involved in
the projects either as lead council
or as a partner.
Three Local Government Mentors
have been recruited for a two-year
$1.25 million innovative pilot project
that will provide all councils in Victoria
that would like to participate with the
key skills and information needed to
help their communities to adapt to
climate change.
Benefit to Victorians
Benefit to Victorians
Victorians are involved in planning
for the future of their communities
and have confidence that decisions
are being made locally that will make
communities more resilient.
Sharing information can reduce
the costs associated with adapting to
climate change by learning from others
examples so that we are not constantly
starting from scratch.
Creating more clarity around
state and local government’s
responsibilities as we prepare
for a changing climate:
A Memorandum of Understanding
between state and local government
establishes a strong, shared foundation
to continue to work together to clarify
responsibilities relating to climate
change adaptation.
Benefit to Victorians
Gives communities confidence
that actions are delivered in a more
coordinated way without duplicating
efforts or leaving risks to community,
the economy or the environment
unmanaged.
Loddon Mallee
Grampians
Hume
Greater
Melb
Barwon
South West
Gippsland
32
BARWON
SOUTH WEST
Roadside Biodiversity Value
Mapping for Bushfire Risk
Roadsides
Funded through the VAS Partnership,
Glenelg Shire Council received
$40,000 to prepare for climate change
by mapping flora and fauna biodiversity
to protect sites of significant roadside
vegetation in bushfire risk areas.
Heatwaves and Social Vulnerability
Through $150,000 VAS Partnership
funding, this project will identify and
build resilience for people who are most
vulnerable to the impacts of heatwaves
and increased heat. The project is
being led by City of Greater Geelong in
partnership with Surf Coast Shire.
Enabling Adaptation Action
for Vulnerable Rural Persons
The focus of this project in Southern
Grampians Shire is investigating
the means to increase the capacity
of vulnerable rural populations to
better plan for the impacts of climate
variability and change. The VAS
partnership provided $67,000 to
this project.
33
GRAMPIANS
Listening to the Land;
Looking to the Future
This $200,000 VAS Partnership project
led by Hepburn Shire is informing
planning to optimise food and fibre
producing landscapes and ensure
biodiversity continues to be able to
provide a wide range of ecosystem
services in a changing climate.
Supporting Change and Adaptation
in Northern Grampians Shire
Led by Northern Grampian Shire
Councils, this project will see councils
work with their communities to
improve sustainability and resilience
to climate change impacts. Council
will aim to increase resilience
and contribute to the economic,
environmental and social well-being
of the community and region.
Building Resilience in Farming
Communities and Agri-business
The VAS partnership provided $200,000
to a collaborative project between West
Wimmera Shire, Yarriambiack Shire
and Horsham Rural City to investigate
barriers to farmers and agri-business
looking to source and implement
innovative and sustainable practices.
The project includes the development
of an information conduit and
knowledge broker to be implemented
in the second year of the project.
34
LODDON
MALLEE
Resilient Community Assets
Central Goldfields Shire is leading
a $240,000 government funded
collaborative project to strengthen
cooperation between six municipalities.
The project improves local adaptation
decision-making by identifying current
and potential future economic and
community vulnerabilities to climate
change and identifying actions to
manage risks and build resilience.
Creating a Climate-Resilient
Southern Loddon Mallee
The City of Greater Bendigo, in
partnership with six Loddon Mallee
councils, is leading a project to ensure
communities are better prepared for
climate change by identifying regional
adaptation opportunities which
respond to the region’s extreme and
high climate-related vulnerabilities
expected for 2030.
Carbon Action Plans
DEPI Loddon Mallee is working with
North Central CMA to develop a
regional Carbon Action Plan. The plan
will integrate existing regional strategies
and help guide the types and locations
of carbon farming and biodiversity
activities to help maximise the benefits
for biodiversity, water and agricultural
production, including co-benefits such
as landscape connectivity, resilience
and wildlife corridors.
VICTORIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT / PAGE 19
REGIONAL SNAPSHOTS /
ADAPTATION ACTION IN VICTORIA'S REGIONS
This section illustrates the diversity of climate-related issues to
consider in Victoria and provides a brief overview of the types of
projects underway in our regions. The projects range from those
related to community education, research and capacity building,
to risk assessments, mapping and infrastructure management.
35
HUME
36
GIPPSLAND
37
GREATER
MELBOURNE
Communities adapting to climate
change: Building resilience to
overcome hazards
Integrating Climatic Impacts
into Local Government Processes
across Gippsland
Through $100,000 VAS Partnership
funding, this project by Alpine Shire
includes education and capacitybuilding actions to build resilience in
communities and local economies. It
explores integrating fire-management,
sustainability and tourism and
researching options for protecting
catchments and energy supplies in
times of crisis.
Gippsland councils, led by East
Gippsland Shire, are developing
decision pathways and processes
to ensure a consistent approach to
adaptation planning through $200,000
VAS Partnership funding plus council
funding and in-kind support. The project
integrates climate risk and adaptation
into local and regional strategies.
Through $200,000 VAS Partnership
funding, this project is being led by
the City of Port Phillip in partnership
with the Association of Bayside
Municipalities. The project is supporting
councils and coastal communities
prepare for the impacts of sea level
rise, coastal inundation and storms
expected to increase as a result of
the changing climate.
Concept design for coastal
flooding adaptation – progress and
demonstrate implementation
Bushland and Urban Biodiversity
Management in a Changing
Climate P.II
VAS Partnership has provided $80,000
to East Gippsland Shire to develop
concepts for coastal adaptation
solutions for two township areas
vulnerable to impacts such as estuarine
flooding, storm surge, sea level rise
induced inundation and erosion.
Options for hard and soft engineering
solutions will be tested.
With Victorian Government funding
of $73,000 this project, led by City
of Boroondara, is assisting local
governments to better manage public
land biodiversity assets. It is developing
and trialling a framework to monitor
natural ecosystem responses to change
and developing adaptive management
techniques.
Gippsland Lakes and 90 Mile Beach
Local Coastal Hazard Assessment
Financial Risk Adaptation Planning
Climate Change Adaptation
Action Plans
The VAS Partnership contributed
$120,000 to Indigo, Towong and City
of Wodonga councils to undertake
risk assessments of potential climate
change impacts on their operations,
the environment, community and
economy to help identify and prioritise
actions and opportunities.
Resilient Community Facilities
Wangaratta, Indigo, Towong, Benalla,
Alpine and Wodonga councils
recognise that rural community
facilities serve multiple functions.
This $200,000 project will identify
key facilities and conduct lower cost
retrofits to ensure community facilities
provide the best resource possible for
the impacts of climate events.
This project gathered data from this
representative coastal location to
aid decision makers such as local
governments and regional agencies
to identify and plan for hazards and
potential changes to the coast over
time and inform adaptation plans to
assess risks and identify actions.
Plan for Port Phillip Bay – a regional
coastal adaptation framework
Seven councils across Greater
Melbourne and the Gippsland region
are working together to develop a
model to assist financial planners
understand climate risks and integrate
them into council’s corporate risk
assessments. The project is being led
by the City of Casey.
Photo Credits
PHOTO
NUMBER
Cover 1 Photo by M. Chew
Cover 2 © State of Victoria, Department of Environment
and Primary Industries
Cover 3 Photo by R. Blackburn
1 Photo by K. Woo Kim
2, 9, 10, 15, © State of Victoria, Department of Environment
16, 19, 24, and Primary Industries
27, 29, 30
3 Photo by D. Hannah
4 Photo by W. Hennecke
5, 26 © CFA Strategic Communications
7 © Parks Victoria
8 Photo by C. Jordan
11, 13 © CFA
12 © Vic Roads
14 Photo by C. Norwood
17 Photo by A. Bruzzone
18 Photo by D. Nielsen
20, 21, 25 © State of Victoria, Office of Living Victoria
22 Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges
23 © Southern Grampians Shire
6, 28 Photo by K. Stepnell
31 © Municipal Association of Victoria
32 Photo by M. Watson
33 Photo by R. Blackburn
34 Photo by M. Dunn
35 Photo by P. Dunphy
36, 37 © Parks Victoria
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